Postal codes in South Korea

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Postal codes in South Korea are composed of five digits. A new system of post codes was introduced on August 1, 2015.^[1] The first postal code in South Korea was established on July 1, 1970, and has been revised three times: in 1988, 2000, and 2015.^[2][3]

South Korea's first postal code was introduced on July 1, 1970. Individual codes were provided for each post office distribution area, using an nnn-nn numeric format (e.g., 120-01 represented Susaek-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul). Unlike current postal coding provided by administrative districts, the 1970 system was implemented based upon a post office's railroad line; this often led to inconsistencies in post codes relative to their administrative areas.

Large post offices used a three-digit postal code, and small offices a five-digit code. For example, the Seoul Central Post Office's code was 100, and the Seoul Susaek-dong Post Office's was 120-01. Codes in the 700s were assigned to military posts, in the 800s to Hwanghae, the 900s to Pyongan, and the 000 range to Hamgyong.

Postal codes became six digits long on February 1, 1988. They were grouped by administrative areas as reflected by district reorganization and highway transportation networks. New groupings were also implemented: units in the 400s, not previously available, were allocated to Gyeonggi and Incheon, and 700s units, previously military, were changed to Gyeongbuk and Daegu. These codes utilized an nnn-nnn format; the first three digits represented, in order, the metropolitan administrative district (large city, metropolitan area, province, special autonomous area, etc.), the resident's neighborhood or ward, and a specific city, county, or district.

The last three digits matched the code to the recipient. They were assigned based on a postal carrier's delivery route. These sub-codes were divided into statutory dongs and administrative dongs, followed by myeons, and then by buildings and/or mailboxes.

On May 1, 2000, postal codes were assigned to each delivery agent's postal area to facilitate easier distribution. This system relied upon the codes assigned in 1988. New postal codes were subdivided to match each postman's delivery area, taking into account the introduction of automated mail sorting equipment.

• 2015.8.1 ZIP code is used by introducing a five-digit National Basic District System number.

The State Basic District System was introduced into South Korea on August 1, 2015. The five-digit State Basic District Number is given to each State Basic District, and it is used as a postal code of that district instead of the former six-digit code.^[4]

Current postal codes are structured around five digits. The first three digits represent a municipality, and the last two digits are given to the districts inside the corresponding municipality, from the northwest corner of the district to the southeast.

refers to the number of zones published to the general public, such as statistics, fire fighting, and mail.

"Article 19, Paragraph 3 of the Road Name Address Act", used as the basic unit of statistical area, postal area.

In the case of Seoul, the numbers are from 01 to 09. For example, 01000, the first two digits are 01.

Prefix Ranges

It is used for mail, national statistics, fire fighting, schools, police, and elections.

In the national basic area, 34,349 basic areas were established nationwide based on topographical features such as roads, rivers, and railroads, and five-digit area numbers were given to the established basic areas.

National basic district numbers have been assigned from Seoul (01XXX) to Jeju (63XXX) except for preliminary numbers in preparation for future unification(Union Korea) and urban development.

• According to the notification No. 2023-50 and the road name address-linked zip code adjustment notification on November 7, 2023, the total number of zip codes is 34,605, and a total of 6,406,401 road name addresses with zip codes are registered (as of November 7, 2023), and are adjusted according to the granting, changing, or abolition of the national basic zone number. (Related statutes are Article 7 (6) and Article 8 (5) of the Road Name Address Act.)

• On January 1, 2024, the names of Wonmi-gu, Sosa-gu, and Ojeong-gu were changed due to the establishment of a general district in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, and nine administrative dongs were abolished and 36 other dongs were newly established, so the general dong system was changed from the existing metropolitan dong form in Bucheon-si. Be careful when using or visiting land locations, competent community centers, institutions and departments, and all other addresses.

• On January 18, 2024, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province was launched. Legal dong code, administrative dong code, road name code, and institutional code are all changed (changed to 42->52) and use the official name of "Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province" rather than "Jeonbuk-do" to maintain Jeonbuk in general. In the English language, there is a short change from "Jeollabuk-do" to "Jeonbuk-do".
• On Aug. 1, 2024, there were changes to administrative and legal dongs in Seongju-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It was changed from Geumsu-myeon (35,000) to Geumsugangsan-myeon (35500), and changed to Gwangsan-ri (35028 to 35521), Myeongcheon-ri (35029 to 35522), Eoeun-ri (35030 to 35523), Hupyeong-ri (35031 to 35524), Bongdu-ri (35032 to 35525), Muhak-ri (35033 to 35526), and Yeongcheon-ri (35034 to 35527). The existing code can be considered to have been abolished, and it can be said that a new number has been given due to the establishment.
• Due to the change of administrative districts in Incheon in 2026, Jung-gu and Dong-gu were changed to Jemulpo-gu and Yeongjong-gu, and Seo-gu were differentiated to Seo-gu and Geomdan-gu. There are likely to be changes in road name addresses and postal addresses.

Postal Code Search, Korea Post Official (ePost)

Korea Postal Code Finder